Mario Hollands Named UCSBgauchos.com Athlete of the Week

May 26, 2009

May 26, 2009

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -
UC Santa Barbara sophomore pitcher Mario Hollands allowed just two runs on six hits vs. No. 1 UC Irvine on Saturday, earning the pitcher the UCSBgauchos.com Athlete of the Week award. It is the second time Hollands won the award this season.

The left-hander held the top-ranked Anteaters in check and was helped out as his teammates blasted six home runs - a Caesar Uyesaka Stadium record - as the Gauchos handed UCI only its second Big West Conference loss of the season.

Hollands struck out three and allowed just single runs in the fourth and fifth innings of the game. In the seventh, his final frame, he remained in the game after taking a line drive off his left forearm and worked out of a bases-loaded jam to help the Gauchos along to the 8-2 victory.

The El Cerrito, Calif. native was also named the UCSBgauchos.com Athlete of the Week on March 9 after tossing a complete-game, one-hit shutout over Loyola Marymount. It was the first one-hitter thrown by a Gaucho since 1986.

On Saturday, Hollands was also overpowering. The two runs he allowed tied the fewest that Irvine had scored in a game all season and allowed UCSB to hand the Anteaters just their second loss in conference play.